The rotator cuff is comprised of four muscle tendons, not ligaments, that connect to the shoulder. Therefore, there are zero ligaments in the rotator cuff.
The rotator cuff plays a critical role in shoulder function by stabilizing the upper arm bone within the shoulder socket and enabling a wide range of motion. It’s important to distinguish between tendons and ligaments:
- Tendons connect muscles to bones.
- Ligaments connect bones to other bones.
The rotator cuff tendons come from these four muscles:
- Supraspinatus
- Infraspinatus
- Teres Minor
- Subscapularis
While there are ligaments surrounding and supporting the shoulder joint, these are not considered part of the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is specifically about the tendons of the four aforementioned muscles.
